By 
'Tis the most wonderful time of the year! Well, almost.
(Record scratch) But wait, when exactly is it again? Ree Drummond's definition of winter basically revolves around Christmas. "Winter means figuring out which Christmas cookies to make, searching for the perfect gifts, picking out the best tree on the lot, making (and delivering) cinnamon rolls to friends and neighbors—the works!" While she has a lot on her plate, Ree has one definitive rule when it comes to December: A Christmas tree should not go up until at least the second week of December. Noted! Though, Alex Drummond may disagree on that. Her Christmas tree was up in November last year!
Okay, everyone gears up for the holidays at different times, but it seems like the Christmas spirit is felt earlier and earlier each year. Some brands like Walmart offer holiday shopping deals beginning in October. Your favorite Christmas songs might even pop up on the radio around Thanksgiving! We're not complaining... especially if we can fit in even more Christmas traditions. But the whole thing might make you wonder, when is Christmas and why is it celebrated in December in the first place? Well, we got curious too. Read on to find out why December is the gift-giving holiday and what day of the week Christmas falls on this year.
Why is Christmas celebrated on December 25?
Surprise, surprise—there is no mention of December 25 in the Bible. In fact, it doesn't mention a specific time or date for Jesus' birth at all! December was already a significant month prior to Christianity, as many groups celebrated the winter solstice and the return of longer days. The Romans notably observed Juvenalia on December 25, which was a feast to honor the children of Rome and the infant god Mithra.
Early Christians eventually believed Jesus was born January 6, since that aligned with the assumed date of his crucifixion. This meant that the 25th was considered a pagan day and the 6th a Christian one.
So, why did it all change? You can thank Pope Julius I for that! In the fourth century, Julius I chose December 25 as the official date to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It's commonly believed that he chose this date to help adopt and absorb the pagan festivals that occurred during the same time and thus attract the masses to Christmas instead. (Note that Juvenalia was a celebration of children!)
By the sixth century, the "Feast of the Nativity," as it was first called, spread widely in England and Germany. While it was initially a raucous celebration, Americans reinvented Christmas as a day centered on family, peace, and nostalgia.
What day of the week is Christmas this year?
Much like Thanksgiving, the actual day of the week that we celebrate changes each year. Christmas Eve falls on Sunday, December 24, and Christmas Day falls on Monday, December 25 in 2023.
If you're still wondering about the original date, January 6 now marks the day that the wise men arrived in Bethlehem, so the intervening period is known as the 12 Days of Christmas.
All that being said, it's time to pull out your advent calendars and Christmas pajamas, because the countdown to Christmas is on!
Micaela Bahn is a freelance editorial assistant and recent graduate from Carleton College, where she majored in English literature. She loves running, photography, and cooking the best new recipes.
